News headlines for “Democracy”, page 85
‘The Closure of Meta’s US Fact-Checking Programme Is a Major Setback in the Fight Against Disinformation’
- Inter Press Service

Jan 24 (IPS) - CIVICUS speaks with Olivia Sohr about the challenges of disinformation and the consequences of the closure of Meta’s fact-checking programme in the USA. Olivia is the Director of Impact and New Initiatives at Chequeado, an Argentine civil society organisation working since 2010 to improve the quality of public debate through fact-checking, combating disinformation, promoting access to information and open data.
Report Exposes Silent Global Emergency as More Crises-Affected Children Need Urgent Education Support
- Inter Press Service

NEW YORK & NAIROBI, Jan 24 (IPS) - A report released today on the International Day of Education sounds alarm as the number of school-aged children in crisis worldwide requiring urgent support to access quality education reaches a staggering 234 million—an estimated increase of 35 million over the past three years fueled by intensifying armed conflict, forced displacements, more frequent and severe weather and climatic events, and other crises.
Should King Baudouin, DRC’s Last Sovereign, Be Beatified?
- Inter Press Service

GOMA, Democratic Republic of the Congo, Jan 24 (IPS) - During his visit to the Kingdom of Belgium in September 2024, Pope Francis was full of praise for King Baudouin, who ruled Belgium for more than 40 years.
Living Conditions in Syria Deteriorate During Transitional Period
- Inter Press Service

UNITED NATIONS, Jan 23 (IPS) - Thirteen years of extended conflict, economic downturns, and multiple earthquakes, has left Syria in the midst of a severe humanitarian crisis. Hostilities remain abundant across all of Syria’s governorates, with each facing widespread civilian displacements and damage to critical infrastructures. Following the change of government in December of 2024, Syrian refugees have begun returning from neighbouring countries. However, this return has been marred with insecurity due to the sheer scale of unexploded ordnance, which has resulted in numerous civilian casualties.
A Dream Deferred: Why Is Traveling Across Africa So Hard for Africans?
- Inter Press Service

BULAWAYO, Jan 23 (IPS) - Aliko Dangote, Africa’s richest man, carries his frustration as visibly as he carries his passport.
Fallen Black South African Soldiers From World War I Finally Remembered
- Inter Press Service

CAPE TOWN, Jan 22 (IPS) - It was a solemn ceremony on a bright sunny day on the southern tip of Africa, in Cape Town’s company gardens, amid the grass wooden structures that stand out. The 1,700 carefully constructed brown wooden carvings are standing in a line. These structures represent a new Commonwealth War Graves Commission (CWGC) memorial, which honors the contribution of the hundreds of Black South African military laborers of the First World War. The CWGC remembers the fallen soldiers of both World Wars equally with this first permanent redress tribute.
Taliban's Decrees Worsen Crisis for Afghan Women, Banning All NGO Work
- Inter Press Service

Jan 21 (IPS) - Afghan women are enduring perhaps their most challenging time. Since the Taliban regained power four years ago, restrictions on women and girls have escalated, beginning with bans on education and paid employment.
The First Phase of Israel-Palestine Ceasefire Begins
- Inter Press Service

UNITED NATIONS, Jan 21 (IPS) - On January 15, 2025, the long-awaited ceasefire proposal between Israel and Hamas was approved, bringing the first bout of relief for the people of the Gaza Strip after 15 months of conflict. This has allowed for the exchange of prisoners and hostages between the two nations as well as a greater flow of humanitarian aid to be directed to Gaza. Although this only accounts for the first phase out of the three phase plan, it is uncertain if Israel will continue to uphold the negotiations of a truce after the first phase is completed.
Still Hopes for a Future Plastic Treaty - But it Won’t be Easy
- Inter Press Service

KATHMANDU, Nepal, Jan 20 (IPS) - The last few weeks of 2024 were a disappointment for those who strongly believed that planet Earth is in need of bold actions.
First, there were the frustration stemming from what could be defined at minimum as unconvincing outcomes of both COP 16 on Biodiversity and COP 29 on Climate.
Pemba’s Woman Salt Farmers Forge Livelihoods Amid Climate Woes
- Inter Press Service

PEMBA, Tanzania, Jan 20 (IPS) - As the cool morning breeze sweeps across the Indian Ocean beach in Tanzania’s Pemba archipelago, Salma Mahmoud Ali begins her day. With her brightly coloured Kikoi cinched tightly around her waist and a dark blue scarf framing her face, she walks barefoot toward her salt ponds. The humid air hangs, but Ali wades through ankle-deep water with courage.

